bamamedic
Contributor
- Messages
- 1,251
- Reaction score
- 8
- # of dives
- 200 - 499
Woo hoo! My drysuit finally came in last week 
I went with a TLSSE because it was one heck of a lot cheaper than the $2,000 TLS350. As much as I wanted a telescoping torso and a front zip, I didn't want it enough to pay $800 more for it
I was wearing a Dive Rite 905 in XS before the TLS, and as much as I liked it (it had heavy duty latex seals, and came with pockets, knee pads, a butt pad, and protective zipper flap as a standard items instead of options), it was just too darned big for me, especially when it came to height, and no matter what I did, there was enough extra material in the shoulders that it was hard as heck for me to vent air (venting was a procedure that involved getting nearly vertical, rolling to the right, and tilting my arm at just the right angle). I've got a few acquaintances that love the 905, and if only it came in a woman's cut, or a smaller size, I'd still own one.
Anyways, the TLSSE is fantastic, especially when you consider the MSRP is about $1200. I had my dive shop measure me, and it turns out that I'd fit pretty well into a women's Medium Short. According to the size chart, the hips looked like they'd be a bit snug, and I was worried that it might be a squeeze. Turns out that the sizing wasn't an issue at all. It was cut for a woman, which meant smaller shoulders and bigger hips. I can fit Pinnacle Evo undergarments in there, and while it's snug, it's definitely not too tight.
It doesn't have the cool-as-heck telescoping torso, but I had no problem reaching my valves. Venting air was so much easier with a properly fitting drysuit! The trilaminate material is actually a bit sturdier than I was expecting, too.
I had Zipseals installed, and was a bit concerned that, due to my small stature, the Zipseal neck ring was going to be a bit uncomfortable (where it would dig into my collarbone). Truthfully, it is a bit uncomfortable on land, because that's exactly where my harness rests, but in the water, it's a non issue.
I'm still not sure about the Rock boots, though. They just seem a bit bulky for what they provide, and I'm thinking about just using a pair of sneakers instead. The ankle support is nice, though.
I went with a few additional options (bellows pockets - they would only install the smaller ones due to the short height of the drysuit - but I have no problem fitting a lift bag in one pocket, and a backup mask and wetnotes in the other one), knee pads, and the protective zipper flap (an extra $150, but I think it's worth it if it reduces wear on the zipper).
Now, for the minuses. I ordered my drysuit in early November (if memory serves), and didn't get it till early January. I think that the wait turned out to be about two months or so...just seemed like a long time for a mostly stock suit. I'm told it's because I ordered it right before the Christmas rush...it's all good, but I sold my Dive Rite suit expecting the DUI one to be in on time, and it kept being delayed...so I had some really cold wetsuit dives!
According to my LDS, DUI wouldn't install heavy duty wrist seals on a small suit such as mine. Something about the wrist being too large for the smaller suit...no biggie, because the lighter wrist seals are working better with my wrists (prominent tendons and all).
The supplied DUI hood didn't fit at all...I wound up with a medium warm neck hood, and I swear, it wasn't designed for a human head LOL. Maybe I just have an odd shaped noggin, but the neck was way too tight, and the head part was way too loose (the face seal wasn't even flush with my face).
Overall, I'm very happy with it...it's nice to have scuba gear actually designed for a woman's figure, instead of just a shrunken men's size. It fits well, was fairly reasonable priced, and you can pick the accent color!
I went with a TLSSE because it was one heck of a lot cheaper than the $2,000 TLS350. As much as I wanted a telescoping torso and a front zip, I didn't want it enough to pay $800 more for it
I was wearing a Dive Rite 905 in XS before the TLS, and as much as I liked it (it had heavy duty latex seals, and came with pockets, knee pads, a butt pad, and protective zipper flap as a standard items instead of options), it was just too darned big for me, especially when it came to height, and no matter what I did, there was enough extra material in the shoulders that it was hard as heck for me to vent air (venting was a procedure that involved getting nearly vertical, rolling to the right, and tilting my arm at just the right angle). I've got a few acquaintances that love the 905, and if only it came in a woman's cut, or a smaller size, I'd still own one.
Anyways, the TLSSE is fantastic, especially when you consider the MSRP is about $1200. I had my dive shop measure me, and it turns out that I'd fit pretty well into a women's Medium Short. According to the size chart, the hips looked like they'd be a bit snug, and I was worried that it might be a squeeze. Turns out that the sizing wasn't an issue at all. It was cut for a woman, which meant smaller shoulders and bigger hips. I can fit Pinnacle Evo undergarments in there, and while it's snug, it's definitely not too tight.
It doesn't have the cool-as-heck telescoping torso, but I had no problem reaching my valves. Venting air was so much easier with a properly fitting drysuit! The trilaminate material is actually a bit sturdier than I was expecting, too.
I had Zipseals installed, and was a bit concerned that, due to my small stature, the Zipseal neck ring was going to be a bit uncomfortable (where it would dig into my collarbone). Truthfully, it is a bit uncomfortable on land, because that's exactly where my harness rests, but in the water, it's a non issue.
I'm still not sure about the Rock boots, though. They just seem a bit bulky for what they provide, and I'm thinking about just using a pair of sneakers instead. The ankle support is nice, though.
I went with a few additional options (bellows pockets - they would only install the smaller ones due to the short height of the drysuit - but I have no problem fitting a lift bag in one pocket, and a backup mask and wetnotes in the other one), knee pads, and the protective zipper flap (an extra $150, but I think it's worth it if it reduces wear on the zipper).
Now, for the minuses. I ordered my drysuit in early November (if memory serves), and didn't get it till early January. I think that the wait turned out to be about two months or so...just seemed like a long time for a mostly stock suit. I'm told it's because I ordered it right before the Christmas rush...it's all good, but I sold my Dive Rite suit expecting the DUI one to be in on time, and it kept being delayed...so I had some really cold wetsuit dives!
According to my LDS, DUI wouldn't install heavy duty wrist seals on a small suit such as mine. Something about the wrist being too large for the smaller suit...no biggie, because the lighter wrist seals are working better with my wrists (prominent tendons and all).
The supplied DUI hood didn't fit at all...I wound up with a medium warm neck hood, and I swear, it wasn't designed for a human head LOL. Maybe I just have an odd shaped noggin, but the neck was way too tight, and the head part was way too loose (the face seal wasn't even flush with my face).
Overall, I'm very happy with it...it's nice to have scuba gear actually designed for a woman's figure, instead of just a shrunken men's size. It fits well, was fairly reasonable priced, and you can pick the accent color!
